- The arrow (----------->) in a chemical reaction DOES NOT mean "equals" It means "PRODUCES."
- Failure to perceive that individual substances and properties correspond to a certain type of particle.
- Formation of a new substance with new properties is seen as simply happening rather than as a result of particle rearrangement.
- Frequent disregard for particle conservation and orderliness when describing physical changes
- Absence of conservation of particles during a chemical change
- Particles misrepresented in sketches: no differentiation is made between atoms and molecules.
- Particles misrepresented and undifferentiated in concepts involving elements, compounds, mixtures, solutions, and substances.
- After chemical change, the original substances are perceived as remaining even though they are altered